傳法正宗定祖圖卷第一(并序十作卷)
Correcting the Transmission of the Dharma: Definitive Patriarchal Lineage - Illustrations, Scroll 1<note>Preface and Sequence in ten
宋鐔津東山沙門臣僧契嵩撰
Song Tanjin Dongshan Monk Qisong, composed
原夫菩提達磨。實佛氏一教之二十八祖也。與乎大迦葉。乃釋迦文如來。直下之相承者也。傳之中國。年世積遠。譜諜差謬。而學者寡識。不能推詳其本。真遂不諒。紛然異論。古今頗爾。契嵩平生以此為大患。適考其是非正其宗祖。其書垂出。會頒祖師傳法授衣之圖。布諸天下。而學佛者雖皆榮之。猶聽瑩未諭上意。契嵩幸此。竊謂識者曰。吾佛以正法要為一大教之宗。以密傳受為一大教之祖。其宗乃聖賢之道源。天地生靈之妙本也。其祖乃萬世學戒定慧者之大範。十二部說之真驗也。自書傳亂之曖昧漫漶。天下疑之幾千百載矣。今上大聖。特頒圖以正其宗祖。然聖人教道。必聖人乃能正之。是豈唯萬世佛氏之徒之大幸也。亦天地生靈者之大幸也。契嵩因不避其僭越愚妄之誅。敢昧死引其舊事。推衍上聖意。仰箋乎祖圖。亦先所頒祖師傳法授衣之謂也。然其始亂吾宗祖。熒惑天下學者。莫若乎付法藏傳。正其宗祖斷萬世之諍者。莫若乎禪經。禪經乃先乎付法傳。六十二載始終備。二十八祖。已見於晉之世矣。付法傳乃真君廢教之後。缺然但謂二十四世。方見乎魏之時耳。適以禪經驗。而付法藏傳果其謬也。若如來獨以正法眼藏密付乎大迦葉者。則現之涅槃經智度論禪經。與其序也。以意求之。而佛之微旨存焉。上睿性高妙。獨得乎言謂之外。是乃天資佛記也。故其發揮禪祖。雅與經合。宜乎垂之萬世。永為定斷三學。佛子遵之仰之。天下不復疑也。其圖所列。自釋迦文佛大迦葉。至乎曹溪第六祖大鑒禪師。凡三十四位。又以儒釋之賢其言吾宗祖。素有證據者十位。列于諸祖之左。謹隨其傳法正宗記。詣闕上進。塵黷宸眷。不任惶恐震懼之至。謹序。
Original Bodhidharma is truly the twenty-eighth patriarch of Buddhism. Together with Mahakashyapa, he represents the direct lineage passed down from Shakyamuni Buddha. When this lineage was transmitted to China, many years passed and records became confused, causing scholars who lacked knowledge to be unable to verify the truth. This led to various erroneous debates that have persisted throughout history.
I, Qisong, have long considered this a major problem. I carefully investigated the facts to correct the patriarchal tradition. As my work was about to be published, an imperial diagram of the patriarchs' Dharma transmission and robe transfer was distributed across the land. Although Buddhist practitioners honored this, they still could not fully understand the emperor's intent. Seizing this opportunity, I told knowledgeable people: "Our Buddha established the True Dharma as the core teaching of the entire religion, and secret transmission as the foundation of the entire tradition. This core is the source of all sages' paths and the wondrous origin of all beings in heaven and earth. This tradition serves as the great model for practitioners of precepts, meditation, and wisdom throughout the ages, and as the true verification of the twelve divisions of scriptures.
"Because written records became confused and unclear, the world doubted this for nearly a thousand years. Now the wise emperor has specially issued this diagram to correct our patriarch lineage. Truly, a sage's teaching must be corrected by a sage. This is not only the great fortune of Buddhists for all ages, but also the great fortune of all beings in heaven and earth."
Therefore, I dared not avoid punishment for my arrogance, but risked death to cite past events, elaborating on the emperor's holy intent by annotating the patriarch diagram—which records the Dharma transmission and robe transfer as previously decreed. Among sources that first confused our patriarchal lineage and misled scholars worldwide, none is more problematic than the "Transmission of the Dharma Treasury." To correct our patriarch lineage and settle disputes for all ages, nothing is better than the "Meditation Sutra." This sutra predates the "Transmission of the Dharma Treasury" by sixty-two years, fully record the twenty-eight patriarchs as seen in the Jin Dynasty. The "Transmission" appeared only after Emperor Taiwu's persecution of Buddhism, incompletely listing only twenty-four patriarchs from the Wei Dynasty period. Comparing it with the "Meditation Sutra" proves the "Transmission" to be erroneous.
As for how the Tathagata privately transmitted the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye to Mahakashyapa, this is found in the "Nirvana Sutra," "Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom," and "Meditation Sutra" with their prefaces. Through contemplation, the Buddha's subtle intention becomes clear. Our emperor's noble nature, sublimely perceptive, comprehends this beyond words—this is truly a prophecy of Buddhahood. Thus his revelation of the Zen patriarchs perfectly aligns with the sutras and should stand for all ages as the definitive judgment. Practitioners of the three trainings should revere and follow it, so the world will never again doubt. The diagram lists from Shakyamuni Buddha and Mahakashyapa down to Great Master Dajian, the Sixth Patriarch of Caoxi—thirty-four generations in total. Additionally, ten virtuous individuals from both Buddhist and secular traditions who have provided clear evidence for our patriarchal lineage are placed to the left of the patriarchs. Respectfully, I submit this together with my "True Record of the Dharma Transmission" to the imperial court. Humbly offering this to Your Majesty's attention, I cannot contain my fear and reverence. Respectfully presented.